Addis Ababa - Ethiopian Airlines aims at strengthening its position as one of the leading airlines in Africa. It is ready to invest 40 million dollars to purchase five more Boeings 777. The funds, provided by the African Development Bank, go with other private and public allocations for the 10-year development plan that will allow the airline to renew its entire fleet by 2018. The airline, founded in 1945, enjoys a solid international reputation, with crew and maintenance staff that can be compared to those of western airlines. The headquarters are at Addis Ababa airport, one of the foremost hubs in Africa. The development plans of Ethiopian Airlines will soon lead to the hiring of 800 workers, one quarter of whom women.
